Race Discrimination Case Decided in Bush v. Dist. of Columbia
Bush v. Dist. of Columbia, No. 08-7016, involved an action by six minority members of a police department claiming that defendant police supervisor's racially discriminatory conduct and the district's complicity impaired plaintiffs' employment contract.
As the court of appeals wrote: "Plaintiffs are six minority members of the Metropolitan Police Department. They sued their supervisor, ... and the District of Columbia. [The supervisor], who is white, allegedly insulted them frequently and profanely, gave them unduly harsh performance evaluations, and denied them equipment, overtime, and promotions - all because of their race."
The court of appeals affirmed summary judgment for defendants on the grounds that 1) the disciplinary proceeding relied upon by plaintiff took place after the events alleged in the complaint and the police chief in fact did discipline the supervisor for his treatment of the officers under his command; and 2) even the most charitable reading of plaintiffs' briefs revealed only passing references to a vague and unsupported narrative of a supervisor's harsh treatment of his employees.